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SDF starts withdrawal from Syria-Turkey border area following deal

US-Turkish agreement in early August called for creation of 'safe zone' in an effort to stave off a Turkish military offensive

Members of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) attend the funeral of an Arab fighter in SDF who was killed the previous week in the eastern Deir Ezzor province, in northeastern Syrian Kurdish-majority city of Qamishli (AFP)

The US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) militia has begun withdrawing from Syria's border with Turkey, following the announcement of a deal for a buffer zone there.

A spokesperson for the group, which comprises Kurds and Arabs but is largley dominated by the pro-Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG), said it had started the pull back from the northern Syria border, which is set to become a "safe zone" after an agreement between the US and Turkey earlier this month.

Turkey regards the YPG as a "terrorist" organisation linked to the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which has been fighting with the Turkish state since 1984.

“As part of the triple agreement with Turkey and the US on border security, we started to take practical steps to implement the first phase," said Zedan al-Asi, a spokesperson for the political administration established by the YPG in areas it controls, according to the pro-YPG Firat News Agency.

"The border barrages have been removed in Serekaniye, YPG units and heavy weapons have been pulled back to their new positions and checkpoints along the border were turned over to local forces.”

He added that similar steps had been taken in the town of Tal Abyad on Monday.